Christianity Oasis Forum

[goldieluvs]

I have a question that i would really like to receive some input on. How do you know you are hearing God's voice and following His will for your life? I mean like some things are simple they are either rigt or wrong, but what about the personal decisions you make in your life. It's not that i don't pray or seek to hear and understand His will; it's just that i don't always know. I have never heard God speak to me audibly. Sometimes things will jump out at me when reading the Bible or in what others say at this site.

Ok say for instance my current situation i am employed. It's not as if I dislike my job. There are some things that i am not pleased with, but realistically speaking; employment is important for keeping a roof over your head and having food. And as with any job, there will be aspects that are not always pleasing. Ok, well i had a friend email me asking me if i was interested in a job with their company.

I went on the interview. Things are kinda up in the air at this point as the company is trying to move into the direction it needs to in order to meet national and state requirements to continue to provide services, while at my current place of employment, its pretty much a given that they will survive as it is the most stable and biggest place that provides the type of services for my field. I quoted the new company about a 10,000.00 increase due to multiple factors, such as not providing medical insurance and other benefits that i currently have and while i added another couple thousand to the actual figure, i also did not include the extra driving distance and other factors, so i believe this to be a fair request given the circumstances.

The dilemma: if offerred the job do i take it? This has been in my mind alot. My mom said pray about it and if they offer me the job, then God is telling me to take it. I don't think that is necessarily the answer. As we all know the enemy can manipulate. There were two comments made in the interview that bordered on unethical behavior and my response was what i was willing to do with respect to that and that i would go no further than advising the population i worked with that if i did get offerred the job and if i took it that i would let them know and tell them they if they so chose, they had the option to go with me to remain on caseload but beyond that was unethical and i would not go any further with it. They accepted that response well and stated they did not wish any unethical behavior on either their part or mine; but were being realistic about consumer choice. Maybe it was the way they worded the original questions that bothered me.

Which brings me back to the original question. Hypothetically if i am offerred the job, how do i know that is where God wants me to be? And then i realized this applied to all sorts of situations. I have prayed about it and opened the Bible and came upon this passage. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

I don't expect an audible voice or burning bush, or a cloud to show me the way or anything like what is in the Bible, as while i don't doubt that God could do it again, i have never experienced any of those before and have no expectation that God answer me in such a powerful way. So, how do you know God's will when faced with various circumstances? Personally i believe that a certain amount of peace would follow whatever decision i make, although i also think that just making a decision one way or the other brings some peace as well as the struggle to decide is over. its just the struggle with the various decisions that i question as to how to know.

Ok now that i left a really really long post... any ideas??????

[lizzie]

wow, i was asking this EXACT same question a few weeks ago golds. I got offered a job that seemed to be exactly what i needed... and yet i felt that maybe it wasnt the right thing, what God wanted me to do.

A dear friend advised me that i wasnt going against God by taking the job, but rather stepping out in faith. I took the job and two weeks later I see that this was an amazing blessing as it tied in to other events that happened in my life over those past couple weeks.

I cant tell you whats right for you sis, but know that whatever happens, God will work it out for good.

GBU golds

[Mackenaw]

Hello Goldie

God bless you this day.

I enjoyed reading your post so very much. You are so right when you say that the enemy can manipulate things -- make it look good when it isn't, etc.

I have never heard an audible voice from God, either. Though at times it almost seemed audible it was so very crystal clear, but most times it is so small and still that I find myself cocking my head to one side -- wondering did I hear You, Lord? ...was that You?

You have been extremely practical and systematic in your approach, PLUS you've taken the considerations to prayer. Awesome!!! God is Good!!!

But, I want to point out something you typed and examine it a little more. You said:

There were two comments made in the interview that bordered on unethical behavior and my response was what i was willing to do with respect to that and that i would go no further than advising the population i worked with that if i did get offerred the job and if i took it that i would let them know and tell them they if they so chose, they had the option to go with me to remain on caseload but beyond that was unethical and i would not go any further with it.

There were two comments made that bordered on unethical behavior...

Your ears perked up. Was that, maybe, a "Is that You, God?" moment? Your ethical barometer went zingy there for a moment. Who placed that awesome ethical standard inside of you?

If you were to take that position, having already had your ethical barometer go off during the interview, would you then be able to move forward without putting everything else under a microscope on a continual basis? Would there be peace as the basis from that point on?

You said:

Personally i believe that a certain amount of peace would follow whatever decision i make, although i also think that just making a decision one way or the other brings some peace as well as the struggle to decide is over. its just the struggle with the various decisions that i question as to how to know.

Goldie, look at the wisdom in the highlighted portion of what you wrote. Is that not God? He is talking away to you, girl. When we are tempted to rush to make a decision -- a choice, just so the struggle will be over, is when we can make the biggest mistakes.

God is talking to you.

God bless and keep you, Goldie.
Love,
Mack

[goldieluvs]

awwwwwwwwww lizzie how so totally Awesome that the new job was the right fit for you!! I am so very happy for you my sister!!! It is so cool when things just fit together, isn't it???

Mackles, wow. You made some awesome points. When I spoke with my friend about the interview and what bothered me about it she was like that is so uncool and was planning on speaking with the owner about the company to let them know it is inappropriate, and was genuinely shocked that they asked such questions as she was much happier there than with the company i work for now.

Was God speaking to me, cuz the ethical buzzer??? I never really thought of it that way! And you r right in that when we rush to make a decision we are possibly overlooking what God has to say to us. In talking with a friend where i currently work we talked about how we are blessed as we know current company will get CAHBA endorsement. We are one of the top providers for services and provide a lot of the pilot programs for the LME and that we know as long as we do what we are supposed to do, our jobs are fairly secure. That in and of itself is a blessing.

I have decided at this point to just wait and see what happens as CAHBA endorsement is required in order to remain in business and the deadline is July 1st, although honestly i feel that i will probably remain where i am; in fact i almost blew off the interview but figured (again after talking with a friend) that was also burning a bridge.

People have much wisdom. God has allowed me to have people around me to help me look at things for which i am immensely grateful. God certainly is GOOD and speaks in many ways. Thank you my sister for such wisdom!

[Lionhearted]

hey golders .... my its been a long time since we've chatted huh


The most important factor to remember when making decisions about our life choices is that God is, ultimately, in control. don't ever forget that He knows what your decision will be before you even heard about the job offer; this fact should put your heart and mind at ease.

At the risk of sounding simple, i will share this anyway ... i don't think you can make a "wrong" decision if you are true follower of Christ; if the motive of your heart is to seek and do His will, THAT is the defining factor.

What defines a wrong

[goldieluvs]

thanks my lion sis, yes it has been awhile since we have typed its good to see u again. Thanks for your input and you have an awesome point, I think God takes even our mistakes and turns them into something wonderful to glorify Him. Now, while i dunno how He does it, it is enuf to know He does! Sometimes, when i take the time i am in awe of Him! And nope nothing is impossible for God.. Thanks for sharing your insight!

[deetu]

Hi goldie,
I just wanted to add that God's voice is usually what you recognize as your conscience. It will sound like you and even have your same mannerism.

A wise person once taught me how to know I was hearing God by binding the enemy and his demons in Jesus's name and binding my own imagination in Jesus's name so there was no doubt...
You also ask for forgiveness and test the spirit to make sure it believes Jesus is our savior.
I learned how to know God's voice by doing this.